Assignment Summary For this assignment, you will read and analyze a briefing of a US Supreme Court case, Engel v. Vitale
(1962).
Background Information
Familiarizing yourself with key Supreme Court cases will help you understand the philosophical
underpinnings, significant legal precedents, and political values of the US political system. As you analyze
each case, you will need to draw on your understanding of the relationships among the branches of
government, the major principles of the Constitution, and the policy-making process. Additionally, these
cases may be the focus of AP® exam questions.
You will research a Supreme Court case and answer questions related to the background facts and lower
court rulings, including the reasoning, decision, and opinion(s) for each case. Additionally, you will be
asked to explain how the required Supreme Court case relates to the Constitution, other foundational
documents, or primary and secondary sources. As part of your analysis, you may also be asked to
consider how Supreme Court cases have set precedents for later decisions.
Assignment
After reading the case briefing, answer the following questions.
Case Background
1. Identify the plaintiff and defendant in the case.
2. Explain why the case was brought to the court.
3. Describe the goal of each side in the case. Why was the case brought to the court, and what type of decision was desired? Constitutional Connections
4. Explain the key rights or amendments involved in the case.
5. Did the case primarily center on an issue of civil rights or civil liberties? Explain.
Case Outcomes
6. Describe the majority decision of the court and several arguments as to why the justices ruled the way they did.
7. If there was one dissenting decision of the court, explain it in detail. Why did some justices disagree with the majority?
8. What precedent was set by the court’s decision? What impact did it have on American society?